Facility:

STEM
is a custom-built electron microscope optimized for imaging unstained biological
molecules with minimal radiation damage. The group at Brookhaven operates STEM as
a User Facility with partial DOE and partial support
Fee-for-Service
(viewable with Abobe Reader).

Applications:

STEM mass measurements can:

Determine stoichiometry and homogeneity of a complex

Compare modified or re-assembled vs. native structures

Determine filament symmetry from mass per unit length

In addition, STEM is the best instrument for visualizing small metal clusters used as
heavy atom labels.

Samples:

Molecular Machines

Flagella

Virus Assembly

DNA/RNA/protein complexes

Microtubules

Heavy Atom Labels

Lipoproteins

Prions

Nano Particles

Alzhiemer’s Filaments

Pili

Nano Assemblies

Amyloids

Filamentous Viruses

Fibrin

Spherical Viruses

Video:

The role of the STEM and cryo-EM in structural biology is summarized by
Joe Wall in this 3.5 minute
STEM Video
clip viewable with
Real Player.

Last Modified: October 2, 2012Please forward all questions about this site to:
Kathy Folkers

One of ten national laboratories overseen and primarily funded by the Office of Science of the
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Brookhaven National Laboratory conducts research in the physical,
biomedical, and environmental sciences, as well as in energy technologies and national security.
Brookhaven Lab also builds and operates major scientific facilities available to university, industry
and government researchers. Brookhaven is operated and managed for DOE's Office of Science by Brookhaven
Science Associates, a limited-liability company founded by the Research Foundation for the State
University of New York on behalf of Stony Brook University, the largest academic user of Laboratory
facilities, and Battelle, a nonprofit, applied science and technology organization.